Home Cleaning - Question about washing dish rags

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Question about washing dish rags

Jason Ducharme

2005-10-04, 12:21 am

If I wash dish rags in the same load as cleaning rags that are used to scrub
mildew off, are the dish rags contaminated?

I asked a similar question last spring about whether it would contaminate
the machine, but now I have just mixed up a whole bunch of cleaning rags and
dish rags by mistake and washed them all together. Are the dish rags no
longer suitable for dishes now? Sorry if it's an obvious question but I
have asked it anyway.

Nan

2005-10-04, 1:21 am

Choreboy

2005-10-04, 2:21 am

Nan wrote:
>
> On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:43:31 +0900, "Jason Ducharme"
> <jaydude@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Just to be on the safe side, I'd probably re-wash them with a bit of
> bleach.
>
> Nan

I doubt a few mildew spores are dangerous on a dish rag. In use, a
dishrag can be like a petri dish with thriving colonies of kitchen
bacteria. A dishrag may be loaded with bacteria, but if you use it to
wash the food off the dish and let the dish dry, the filthy rag has
probably made the dish safe to eat from.

Wayne Boatwright

2005-10-04, 2:21 am

On Mon 03 Oct 2005 09:57:48p, Choreboy wrote in alt.home.cleaning:

> Nan wrote:
>
> I doubt a few mildew spores are dangerous on a dish rag. In use, a
> dishrag can be like a petri dish with thriving colonies of kitchen
> bacteria. A dishrag may be loaded with bacteria, but if you use it to
> wash the food off the dish and let the dish dry, the filthy rag has
> probably made the dish safe to eat from.
>

I always add bleach when I wash rags, regardless of type. Just makes me
feel better. :-)

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Phisherman

2005-10-04, 10:21 am

Mystified One

2005-10-04, 11:21 am

I hope the rags don't have an ammonia residue when you do that.

"Wayne Boatwright" <waynesgang@waynes.gang> wrote in message
news:Xns96E4E0A73204Dwaynesgang@217.22.228.19...
: On Mon 03 Oct 2005 09:57:48p, Choreboy wrote in alt.home.cleaning:
:
: > Nan wrote:
: >>
: >> On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:43:31 +0900, "Jason Ducharme"
: >> <jaydude@gmail.com> wrote:
: >>
: >> >If I wash dish rags in the same load as cleaning rags that are used to
: >> >scrub mildew off, are the dish rags contaminated?
: >> >
: >> >I asked a similar question last spring about whether it would
: >> >contaminate the machine, but now I have just mixed up a whole bunch of
: >> >cleaning rags and dish rags by mistake and washed them all together.
: >> >Are the dish rags no longer suitable for dishes now? Sorry if it's an
: >> >obvious question but I have asked it anyway.
: >>
: >> Just to be on the safe side, I'd probably re-wash them with a bit of
: >> bleach.
: >>
: >> Nan
: >
: > I doubt a few mildew spores are dangerous on a dish rag. In use, a
: > dishrag can be like a petri dish with thriving colonies of kitchen
: > bacteria. A dishrag may be loaded with bacteria, but if you use it to
: > wash the food off the dish and let the dish dry, the filthy rag has
: > probably made the dish safe to eat from.
: >
:
: I always add bleach when I wash rags, regardless of type. Just makes me
: feel better. :-)
:
: --
: Wayne Boatwright *¿*
: _____________________________
:
: http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg
:
: Popie-In-The-Bowl

Nan

2005-10-04, 1:21 pm

On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:57:48 -0400, Choreboy
<choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:

>Nan wrote:
>
>I doubt a few mildew spores are dangerous on a dish rag. In use, a
>dishrag can be like a petri dish with thriving colonies of kitchen
>bacteria. A dishrag may be loaded with bacteria, but if you use it to
>wash the food off the dish and let the dish dry, the filthy rag has
>probably made the dish safe to eat from.

Which is exactly why I use bleach or microwave my rag/sponge
frequently.

Nan

Dawn

2005-10-04, 2:21 pm

Wayne Boatwright

2005-10-04, 11:21 pm

It's not an issue. I seldom use ammonia, however the dilution factor in a
full load of wash would make the chemical reaction almost non-existent.

On Tue 04 Oct 2005 06:56:37a, Mystified One wrote in alt.home.cleaning:

> I hope the rags don't have an ammonia residue when you do that.
>
> "Wayne Boatwright" <waynesgang@waynes.gang> wrote in message
> news:Xns96E4E0A73204Dwaynesgang@217.22.228.19...
>: On Mon 03 Oct 2005 09:57:48p, Choreboy wrote in alt.home.cleaning:
>:
>: > Nan wrote:
>: >>
>: >> On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:43:31 +0900, "Jason Ducharme"
>: >> <jaydude@gmail.com> wrote:
>: >>
>: >> >If I wash dish rags in the same load as cleaning rags that are used
to
>: >> >scrub mildew off, are the dish rags contaminated?
>: >> >
>: >> >I asked a similar question last spring about whether it would
>: >> >contaminate the machine, but now I have just mixed up a whole bunch
of
>: >> >cleaning rags and dish rags by mistake and washed them all together.
>: >> >Are the dish rags no longer suitable for dishes now? Sorry if it's
an
>: >> >obvious question but I have asked it anyway.
>: >>
>: >> Just to be on the safe side, I'd probably re-wash them with a bit of
>: >> bleach.
>: >>
>: >> Nan
>: >
>: > I doubt a few mildew spores are dangerous on a dish rag. In use, a
>: > dishrag can be like a petri dish with thriving colonies of kitchen
>: > bacteria. A dishrag may be loaded with bacteria, but if you use it to
>: > wash the food off the dish and let the dish dry, the filthy rag has
>: > probably made the dish safe to eat from.
>: >
>:
>: I always add bleach when I wash rags, regardless of type. Just makes me
>: feel better. :-)
>:
>: --
>: Wayne Boatwright *¿* _____________________________
>:
>: http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg
>:
>: Popie-In-The-Bowl
>
>

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

http://tinypic.com/dzijap.jpg

Popie-In-The-Bowl

Choreboy

2005-10-05, 10:21 pm

Nan wrote:
>
> On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:57:48 -0400, Choreboy
> <choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>
> Which is exactly why I use bleach or microwave my rag/sponge
> frequently.
>
> Nan

Which do you prefer, bleach or heat?

peggo

2005-10-05, 11:21 pm

"Dawn" <dawn@noyoudont.uk> wrote in message
news:gqb5k1p6gpfqjia8esfo7mene6obq0h4l1@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:43:31 +0900, "Jason Ducharme"
> <jaydude@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> personally I wouldn't use them. They may be clinically clean and white
> as the driven snow but if they've been mopping up other dirt I
> wouldn't want them near my dishes or kitchen worktops.
>

I'm glad you posted that, Dawn.
I was thinking the same thing.

peggo

Nan

2005-10-05, 11:21 pm

On Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:12:35 -0400, Choreboy
<choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:

>
>
>Nan wrote:
>
>Which do you prefer, bleach or heat?

It depends on whether it's a sponge or rag. I like bleach for the
rags and heat for the sponge. Bleach tends to eat up the sponge too
fast.

Nan

Choreboy

2005-10-06, 12:21 pm

Nan wrote:
>
> On Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:12:35 -0400, Choreboy
> <choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>
> It depends on whether it's a sponge or rag. I like bleach for the
> rags and heat for the sponge. Bleach tends to eat up the sponge too
> fast.
>
> Nan

Wouldn't it be simpler to use heat for rags, too?

Choreboy

2005-10-06, 12:21 pm

peggo wrote:
>
> "Dawn" <dawn@noyoudont.uk> wrote in message
> news:gqb5k1p6gpfqjia8esfo7mene6obq0h4l1@4ax.com...
>
> I'm glad you posted that, Dawn.
> I was thinking the same thing.
>
> peggo

That's how I feel about reservoirs open to the rain. Water used to mop
up dirt can evaporate and come back as rain. Worse, it could have been
the moisture that caused strange underarm stains in somebody's deep
purple polo shirt! Maybe you can drink from the reservoir after it
rains and not catch the same disease, but who would risk it?

Nan

2005-10-06, 2:21 pm

On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 10:21:46 -0400, Choreboy
<choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:

>Wouldn't it be simpler to use heat for rags, too?

I don't really like to nuke my rags since I can't lay it flat in the
microwave, I always wonder if the heat is distributed evenly enough to
kill the germs.

Nan

peggo

2005-10-06, 8:21 pm

"Choreboy" <choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote in message
news:434535B0.56F08568@localnet.com...
> peggo wrote:
>
>
> That's how I feel about reservoirs open to the rain. Water used to mop
> up dirt can evaporate and come back as rain. Worse, it could have been
> the moisture that caused strange underarm stains in somebody's deep
> purple polo shirt! Maybe you can drink from the reservoir after it
> rains and not catch the same disease, but who would risk it?

not me man.

Bonnie Jean

2005-10-07, 8:21 am

Personally I don't understands the publics obsession with getting rid of
germs. To a great extent they are exercise for your immune system.
I use a sponge for dishes. I do not nuke or bleach it. If it looks funky I
throw it out although they last many months. I use microfiber rags for all
other general cleaning. I do not treat them specially. They go in the
regular laundry and then they get used again.
PS- I rarely get sick.
Bonnie

Dawn

2005-10-07, 1:21 pm

On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 10:33:30 -0400, Choreboy
<choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:

>peggo wrote:
>
>
>That's how I feel about reservoirs open to the rain. Water used to mop
>up dirt can evaporate and come back as rain. Worse, it could have been
>the moisture that caused strange underarm stains in somebody's deep
>purple polo shirt! Maybe you can drink from the reservoir after it
>rains and not catch the same disease, but who would risk it?

acid rain, yuk. I'm with Peggo!

Dawn

2005-10-07, 1:21 pm

On Fri, 7 Oct 2005 06:38:19 -0400, "Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net>
wrote:

>Personally I don't understands the publics obsession with getting rid of
>germs. To a great extent they are exercise for your immune system.
>I use a sponge for dishes. I do not nuke or bleach it. If it looks funky I
>throw it out although they last many months. I use microfiber rags for all
>other general cleaning. I do not treat them specially. They go in the
>regular laundry and then they get used again.
>PS- I rarely get sick.
Some people can have a low immune system and need to take extra care.
Older people are dropping like flies in hospitals because of germs,
babies and the sick are at risk. It's always the weaker ones that go
down first.

Nan

2005-10-07, 4:21 pm

On Fri, 7 Oct 2005 06:38:19 -0400, "Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net>
wrote:

>Personally I don't understands the publics obsession with getting rid of
>germs. To a great extent they are exercise for your immune system.
>I use a sponge for dishes. I do not nuke or bleach it. If it looks funky I
>throw it out although they last many months. I use microfiber rags for all
>other general cleaning. I do not treat them specially. They go in the
>regular laundry and then they get used again.
>PS- I rarely get sick.
>Bonnie

The germs that kitchens can harbor aren't your garden-variety cold/flu
germs. Salmonella is not fun. Trust me.

Nan

Phisherman

2005-10-07, 4:21 pm

On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:44:22 GMT, Nan <nobodys@home.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 7 Oct 2005 06:38:19 -0400, "Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net>
>wrote:
>
>
>The germs that kitchens can harbor aren't your garden-variety cold/flu
>germs. Salmonella is not fun. Trust me.
>
>Nan

Right about the Salmonella. Bleach kills this nasty germ.

win-ho-lee

2005-10-08, 1:21 pm

Nan wrote:
> On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:43:31 +0900, "Jason Ducharme"
> <jaydude@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Just to be on the safe side, I'd probably re-wash them with a bit of
> bleach.
>
> Nan
>
If you knew how your food was made, you probably wouldn't care if you
used the same D... rag.

Mrs Bonk

2005-10-08, 2:21 pm

win-ho-lee wrote:
> Nan wrote:
> If you knew how your food was made, you probably wouldn't care if you
> used the same D... rag.
Oh my goodness, Nan must have been dining at Barbecue Bob's place.

Mrs Bonk

2005-10-08, 2:21 pm

Choreboy wrote:
> peggo wrote:
>
>
> That's how I feel about reservoirs open to the rain. Water used to mop
> up dirt can evaporate and come back as rain. Worse, it could have been
> the moisture that caused strange underarm stains in somebody's deep
> purple polo shirt! Maybe you can drink from the reservoir after it
> rains and not catch the same disease, but who would risk it?
Certainly not me. I have been poorly and can't risk any germs. One never
knows, a passing troll could have washed his feet in it or even worse -
pee'd in it.

2005-10-08, 9:21 pm

On 5 Oct 2005 03:50:44 +0200, Wayne Boatwright
<waynesgang@waynes.gang> wrote:

>It's not an issue. I seldom use ammonia, however the dilution factor in a

What is not an issue?
[color=darkred]
>full load of wash would make the chemical reaction almost non-existent.
>
>On Tue 04 Oct 2005 06:56:37a, Mystified One wrote in alt.home.cleaning:
>
>to
>of
>an

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

2005-10-08, 9:21 pm

On Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:43:31 +0900, "Jason Ducharme"
<jaydude@gmail.com> wrote:

>If I wash dish rags in the same load as cleaning rags that are used to scrub
>mildew off, are the dish rags contaminated?
>
>I asked a similar question last spring about whether it would contaminate
>the machine, but now I have just mixed up a whole bunch of cleaning rags and
>dish rags by mistake and washed them all together. Are the dish rags no
>longer suitable for dishes now? Sorry if it's an obvious question but I
>have asked it anyway.

Mildew can't grow on dishes, and if the rag dries out, it can't grow
on the rag either.

I'll tell you a mildew story. I had an obnoxious roommate, who I was
evicting, but months before that when the pressure relief valve on the
steam radiator was leaking, instead of telling me so I could fix it or
get the landlord to fix it, he took one of MY blankets and used it to
sop up the water, but ruining a small part of the parquet floor in the
process.

Then he moved out without even a mention that he had ruined my (old
and slightly damaged already but still quite serviceable) blanket.

It stank terribly of mildew. I washed it at the laundramat, and it
still stank just as bad. Then I put it in the dryer, moderate heat,
and when it was dry, it smelled great, as good as any other clothes
No dryer strips, no extra anything. There was a part where the mildew
made the tan thermal blanket white, but it was small. I used the
blanket for many years after that.

If moderate heat didn't do it, I'd use one notch higher.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

2005-10-09, 12:21 am

On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 17:58:16 +0100, "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cutey.com> wrote:

>
>Certainly not me. I have been poorly and can't risk any germs. One never
>knows, a passing troll could have washed his feet in it or even worse -
>pee'd in it.

And the fish pee in it.

In Indianapolis, they have sailboating in one reservoir, and
motorboating in the other.

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me know if you have posted also.

2005-10-09, 12:21 am

On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 16:37:27 GMT, Dawn <dawn@noyoudont.uk> wrote:

>
>personally I wouldn't use them. They may be clinically clean and white
>as the driven snow but if they've been mopping up other dirt I
>wouldn't want them near my dishes or kitchen worktops.

If you used cloth diapers for your kids, what would you do with them
after the kid didn't need them anymore?

Hint: They make great dishtowels. Very absorbent.

Would you be willing to use them for that?

I know a lot of women who did/do.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

Wayne Boatwright

2005-10-09, 12:21 am

On Sat 08 Oct 2005 05:04:41p, mm wrote in alt.home.cleaning:

> On 5 Oct 2005 03:50:44 +0200, Wayne Boatwright
> <waynesgang@waynes.gang> wrote:
>
>
> What is not an issue?

Washing rags in the washing machine with some bleach in the water, the rags
(now dry) had previously been used with a cleaning solution containing a
small amount of ammonia. In the large amount of wash water, there is not
enough concentration of both ammonia and bleach to be an issue.

>
>
> Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
> me know if you have posted also.
>

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
_____________________________

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Popie-In-The-Bowl

Dawn

2005-10-10, 3:21 pm

On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 22:43:19 -0400, mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com>
wrote:

>On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 17:58:16 +0100, "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cutey.com> wrote:
>
>
>And the fish pee in it.
>
>In Indianapolis, they have sailboating in one reservoir, and
>motorboating in the other.
>
Yes we do too but it's treated afterward.

Dawn

2005-10-10, 3:21 pm

On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 22:44:40 -0400, mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com>
wrote:

>On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 16:37:27 GMT, Dawn <dawn@noyoudont.uk> wrote:
>
>
>If you used cloth diapers for your kids, what would you do with them
>after the kid didn't need them anymore?
>
>Hint: They make great dishtowels. Very absorbent.
>
>Would you be willing to use them for that?

No way.
I would use them for the floor or car washing or toilet cleaning

Nan

2005-10-10, 3:21 pm

On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 17:41:48 GMT, Dawn <dawn@noyoudont.uk> wrote:

>On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 22:44:40 -0400, mm <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com>
>wrote:

>
>No way.
>I would use them for the floor or car washing or toilet cleaning

I've used cloth diapers for all of my kids and I have to agree.
They're *great* as cleaning rags, but I wouldn't put them near my
dishes.

Nan

peggo

2005-10-10, 11:21 pm

"Nan" <nobodys@home.com> wrote in message
news:jrblk15ns958ogojeq150es3dpmhnecr59@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 17:41:48 GMT, Dawn <dawn@noyoudont.uk> wrote:
>
>
>
> I've used cloth diapers for all of my kids and I have to agree.
> They're *great* as cleaning rags, but I wouldn't put them near my
> dishes.
>
> Nan

yep. gross.
We've gone over this here before I think?

peggo

Nan

2005-10-11, 12:21 am

On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 20:41:16 -0500, "peggo" <peggo666@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>"Nan" <nobodys@home.com> wrote in message
>news:jrblk15ns958ogojeq150es3dpmhnecr59@4ax.com...
>
>yep. gross.
>We've gone over this here before I think?
>
>peggo

A couple of times <G>

Nan

Choreboy

2005-10-11, 1:21 am

Nan wrote:
>
> On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 10:21:46 -0400, Choreboy
> <choreboyREMOVE@localnet.com> wrote:
>
>
> I don't really like to nuke my rags since I can't lay it flat in the
> microwave, I always wonder if the heat is distributed evenly enough to
> kill the germs.
>
> Nan

I use a covered plastic microwave container. Then steam from the wet
rag distributes the heat.

Choreboy

2005-10-11, 2:21 am

Phisherman wrote:
>
> On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:44:22 GMT, Nan <nobodys@home.com> wrote:
>
>
> Right about the Salmonella. Bleach kills this nasty germ.

For disinfecting kitchen surfaces, the recommended solution is 1 tsp
bleach per quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray, let stand, wash,
air dry. If the surface isn't clean before you spray, salmonella may survive.

We eat salmonella all the time. Usually there's not enough in our food
to cause illness. Letting food sit long above 40 and under 150 is
dangerous because salmonella can multiply. Two ways to protect people
from a big dose are washing hands, implements, and surfaces, and heating
food to 150.

Marschal@webtv.net

2005-10-11, 4:21 am

> If I wash dish rags in the same load as
> cleaning rags that are used to scrub
> mildew off, are the dish rags
> contaminated?

When all is said and done, there's that old expression, about food:
"When in doubt throw it out."

How irreplaceable can any item with "rag," in its name, be? Buy new
ones, and relegate the old ones to your actual rag bag. After all this
time of waiting for a definitive answer, your kitchen is surely a bit
skanky.

Bonnie Jean

2005-10-11, 8:21 am

>
> I use a covered plastic microwave container. Then steam from the wet
> rag distributes the heat.

How about boiling a big pot of water, dunking the diaper or rag in and boil
for 10 minutes. I bet that'd kill everything.

2005-10-11, 1:21 pm

On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 02:52:55 GMT, Nan <nobodys@home.com> wrote:

>On Mon, 10 Oct 2005 20:41:16 -0500, "peggo" <peggo666@hotmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>
>A couple of times <G>

Sorry, I missed those.

You guys are spoiled by prosperity.

Anyhow, my mother had far too many diapers to use them up such good
cloth as mere rags. And, though in various houses she didn't have or
didn't use much a dishwasher, my diapers lasted as dishtowels until I
was about 45 years old, and she was 84.

I wasn't paying attention when I was 1 or 2 y.o., but I'm pretty sure
by the time I was 6, the ex-diaper dishtowels were clean.

>Nan

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
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2005-10-11, 1:21 pm

On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 02:19:08 -0400, Marschal@webtv.net wrote:

>
>
>When all is said and done, there's that old expression, about food:
>"When in doubt throw it out."
>
>How irreplaceable can any item with "rag," in its name, be?

LOL. good point.

Hmmm. How about an overcoat with a raglan sleeve?

Just kidding.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

Nan

2005-10-11, 2:21 pm

On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 06:32:14 -0400, "Bonnie Jean" <me@comcast.net>
wrote:

>
>
>How about boiling a big pot of water, dunking the diaper or rag in and boil
>for 10 minutes. I bet that'd kill everything.

That would probably do it. But, more effort than I'm willing to make
;-)

Nan

Mrs Bonk

2005-10-11, 9:21 pm

mm wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 02:52:55 GMT, Nan <nobodys@home.com> wrote:
>
>
> Sorry, I missed those.
>
> You guys are spoiled by prosperity.

I really don't think so dear.
When my oldest child was out of nappies I gave them to a relative who was
expecting. She then passed them to another expectant Mother and when I was
found to be expecting again years later they were passed back to me complete
with pins. This used to be the 'done thing'. I struggled to find anyone to
pass them on to for their original purpose as disposables were all the rage
so the thin almost threadbare ones were eventually used as rags. The ones
with plenty of life left went to Rumania for the poor little orphans. I
consider a 'good' nappy wasted if it's being used on dishes or as rags.

Choreboy

2005-10-11, 10:21 pm

Bonnie Jean wrote:
>
>
> How about boiling a big pot of water, dunking the diaper or rag in and boil
> for 10 minutes. I bet that'd kill everything.

Sterilizing kills everything. It takes a much higher temperature than
boiling water to kill the spores of potentially dangerous bacteria.

Disinfecting is the next level down. It doesn't kill everything. There
are regulations defining the standards of disinfection for a particular
application, such as cleaning a hospital wall.

An antiseptic is a disinfectant that's mild enough to use on living tissue.

Sanitizing is what we usually do at home. The goal is to kill enough
organisms to prevent problems. Washing dishes in warm water and
detergent may be enough to prevent illness. If you brew home beer, you
may need a higher sanitary standard to keep it from going bad.

2005-10-12, 4:21 pm

On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 00:34:52 +0100, "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cutey.com> wrote:

>mm wrote:
>
>I really don't think so dear.
>When my oldest child was out of nappies I gave them to a relative who was
>expecting. She then passed them to another expectant Mother and when I was
>found to be expecting again years later they were passed back to me complete
>with pins. This used to be the 'done thing'. I struggled to find anyone to
>pass them on to for their original purpose as disposables were all the rage
>so the thin almost threadbare ones were eventually used as rags. The ones
>with plenty of life left went to Rumania for the poor little orphans. I
>consider a 'good' nappy wasted if it's being used on dishes or as rags.

But then I wasn't addressing you in the first place, only those who
would use them as rags (real rags, not "dish rags" a term I don't
think I use much, except in the expression;, You look as worn out as a
dishrag. Well, I don't say that, but I hear it.)

I have a cousin about a year older, but iiuc that might not be old
enough to be done with his diapers by the time I needed them. I have
another cousin 3years older, and I don't know if I got his diapers or
not. Maybe not, but I got lots of clothes from him, especially good
clothes. Always had a suit, but never one bought for me until I was
13.

But I was the youngest of my generation on either side of the family.
The bottom of the food chain, or the hand-me-down change. Clothes I
grew out of were given to Goodwill, which is I think a US only charity
that, especially then emphasized job training by repairing things
contributed. I don't know if they accepted diapers. There's nol much
one would do to repair them.

So diapers were used for dishtowels.
>
>
>
>
>
>

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

Choreboy

2005-10-12, 7:21 pm

mm wrote:
>
> On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 00:34:52 +0100, "Mrs Bonk" <arse@cutey.com> wrote:
>
>
> But then I wasn't addressing you in the first place,

I can understand why Mrs. Bonk thought you were addressing her. In her
family, gifts of diapers are never surprises. People who go through
life expecting things are spoiled by prosperity.

> only those who
> would use them as rags (real rags, not "dish rags" a term I don't
> think I use much, except in the expression;, You look as worn out as a
> dishrag. Well, I don't say that, but I hear it.)

I agree. A dish cloth is not simply a discarded piece of fabric.

>
> I have a cousin about a year older, but iiuc that might not be old
> enough to be done with his diapers by the time I needed them. I have
> another cousin 3years older, and I don't know if I got his diapers or
> not. Maybe not, but I got lots of clothes from him, especially good
> clothes. Always had a suit, but never one bought for me until I was
> 13.
>
> But I was the youngest of my generation on either side of the family.
> The bottom of the food chain, or the hand-me-down change. Clothes I
> grew out of were given to Goodwill, which is I think a US only charity
> that, especially then emphasized job training by repairing things
> contributed. I don't know if they accepted diapers. There's nol much
> one would do to repair them.

So diapers were used for dishtowels.

I don't know if a properly washed diaper has even spores of bacteria
from the baby. If it does, those spores are all over the house anyway,
and you know the bacteria were safe enough for a baby's gut.

Gregory Morrow

2005-10-12, 9:21 pm

Mrs Bonk wrote:

> When my oldest child was out of nappies I gave them to a relative who was
> expecting. She then passed them to another expectant Mother and when I was
> found to be expecting again years later they were passed back to me
complete
> with pins. This used to be the 'done thing'. I struggled to find anyone to
> pass them on to for their original purpose as disposables were all the
rage
> so the thin almost threadbare ones were eventually used as rags. The ones
> with plenty of life left went to Rumania for the poor little orphans.

I burst into tears whilst reading this, Mrs. B. - and all I can honestly
think to say through my misty veil of tears is "Bless you!".

It's a grand relief to know there are still some kind and considerate souls
larking about in this big bad world of ours...I doff my duds to you, Mrs.
B.!

--
Best
Greg

0tterbot

2005-10-13, 4:21 am

"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:qpmnk19smgp2h1fo3j4oustsobkr5p3ta6@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 11 Oct 2005 02:19:08 -0400, Marschal@webtv.net wrote:
>
>
> LOL. good point.
>
> Hmmm. How about an overcoat with a raglan sleeve?
>
> Just kidding.

probably just as well... an overcoat with TWO raglan sleeves, otoh, would
most likely still be perfectly good :-)
kylie

Mrs Bonk

2005-10-13, 7:21 pm

mm wrote:

>
> But then I wasn't addressing you in the first place,

Well! Pardon me for breathing!

Mrs Bonk

2005-10-13, 7:21 pm

Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Mrs Bonk wrote:
>
>
>
> I burst into tears whilst reading this, Mrs. B. - and all I can honestly
> think to say through my misty veil of tears is "Bless you!".
>
> It's a grand relief to know there are still some kind and considerate
> souls larking about in this big bad world of ours...I doff my duds to
> you, Mrs. B.!

Don't be silly Gregory. The lorry for goods to Rumanian orphans collects on
a regular basis here. It's just a question of putting it on the doorstep
when they are about to call.
This week we are donating gifts in shoeboxes for the children but that will
be new or fairly new items. I have a few nice gifts for a young child to
open. It gives me so much pleasure, I wish I could see their little faces as
they open the box.

LinkBot